Thursday, May 6, 1999 Published at 17:15 GMT 18:15 UKEntertainmentRobbie rocks New YorkRobbie has landed - but can Williams conquer the US?Singer Robbie Williams' quest to conquer the United States has been given a boost - he received a rapturous reception on the first date of his US tour.

He played New York's 700-capacity Bowery Ballroom, with tickets changing hands outside for well above their face value. The show was also beamed around the world on the Internet.

Williams made his US TV debut on David Letterman's talk show on Monday, and he has had another boost with news he will be performing at the MTV Movie Awards in California on 5 June.

"It's a really big deal, particularly in the US. It's a mark of how well he's doing that he's achieved something his old band Take That never did," an MTV spokeswoman said.

Single and album out

His first US single, Millennium, is receiving heavy radio play, and his debut album The Ego Has Landed - a combination of tracks from his UK albums Life Thru' A Lens and I've Been Expecting You - was released on Tuesday.

He also plays in Philadelphia on Thursday, and in Boston on Friday before five more dates across the US and Canada. West Coast dates next month are yet to be confirmed.

The US market is often highly resistant to UK pop acts - Take That only had limited success across the Atlantic.

George Michael is the only British solo male artist in recent years to do well in the US. Williams will be hoping to follow in his footsteps as well as those of Britain's other major export - the Spice Girls.